Boys basketball: Chavez leads comeback effort as Drake tops San Marin

With injuries and illness shortening the Drake High boys basketball roster by four players, there were opportunities for some lesser-known players to step up Tuesday when the Pirates faced San Marin.

And for the most part, those reserves did. But it certainly didn't hurt matters that Drake still had senior guard Lucas Chavez on the floor.

Though Chavez said he also was under the weather, it was hard to tell as he poured in 21 points, including nine during a 1 minute, 45 second stretch of the third quarter, to help the Pirates secure a 52-44 victory over the Mustangs.

"Obviously Chavez took over the game in the third quarter," San Marin coach Craig Pitti said. "He's an outstanding player and he was the difference tonight. If you take away his run in the third quarter, we're probably sitting here in overtime."

Chavez, who also hit five crucial free throws in the fourth quarter, hit his first 3-pointer with 5:51 left in the third quarter to get his team to within 24-21. His third shot from behind the arc got Drake to within a point. And when Andrew Kuehn and Malik Huff followed with a 3-pointer apiece, Drake (11-4, 3-0) had a 33-30 lead it would not relinquish.

In all, Drake was 6 for 10 from 3-point range, hitting its final six attempts. This came after the Pirates were just 7 for 25 (28 percent) from the floor in the first half.

"We had a lot of adversity, a lot of people out and we knew we had to try our hardest," Chavez said. "Any way we can to get the W. It was tough, but we knew we had to have more confidence in our shot. We came out with confidence and we started to hit our shots."

Despite Drake's hot shooting in the second half, San Marin (9-5, 1-2) stayed within reach until the closing minutes. That's when a parade to the free throw line — and two offensive rebounds by reserve Gavin Hallinan on missed free throws — enabled Drake to put the game on ice.

Hallinan was on the floor because Andrew Kuehn had fouled out. And Kuehn was likely getting minutes that might have gone to Sam Dines had Dines not been sick.

"Honestly, the coach just told me to go in and get every rebound that you can," Hallinan said. "I just tried to do that and it happened for me. I'm just glad that I got the opportunity to make my coach happy."

Drake coach Doug Donnellan was, in fact, smiling afterward.

"These guys amaze me," Donnellan said. "Whoever is called upon just seems to make plays. Gavin for the second game in a row — he was big against Marin Catholic, he came in and turned that game around — then he came in and made some big plays later here. But you know, we can always count on Lukie (Chavez) having a great game and other guys just step up."

For San Marin, which was led by Noah Everly's 16 points, the good news is that the Mustangs will get at least one more chance to face the Pirates this season.

"We'll see them again," Pitti said. "And we'll make some adjustments."